The iPad Mini 4 is the fourth-generation iPad Mini tablet computer designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced along with the iPad Pro on September 9, 2015 and was released the same day. The iPad Mini 4 is also one of the two current iPad Minis sold by Apple, along with the iPad Mini 2; the iPad Mini 4 replaced the iPad Mini 3. Several years ago I was in love with the iPad Mini. It had a 7.9-inch high-res Retina display and it wasn't much larger than a Kindle. It could handle my everyday work and was small enough to sneak along with me wherever I went. It was the perfect travel gadget. It made me wonder why I ever needed a larger iPad at all.Now, of course, I wonder whether I even need an iPad at all, since phones are larger and laptops have gotten more versatile. But the iPad Mini 4 has caught my eye again and I've used it constantly. I like it. But I don't know if it's my favorite iPad anymore. 2014's iPad Mini 3 wasn't really an update; it was, quite literally, just a 2013 iPad Mini 2 with the addition of a Touch ID home button for fingerprint identification. The Mini 4 is the iPad I wanted last year: it has an upgraded A8 processor, better cameras, and a more vivid, color-rich Retina display, and on top of all that it's a bit thinner and lighter. It also supports split-screen apps, the coolest part of iOS 9 -- the Mini 4 joins the iPad Air 2 and the upcoming iPad Pro as the only iPads that can do it. Software The iPad Mini 4 ships with the iOS 9 operating system pre-installed, and was the first device to do so. Due to an additional 1 GB of RAM compared to the previous generation's Mini, the iPad Mini 4 is capable of utilizing the Slide Over, Split View and Picture in Picture multitasking functions. The device is compatible with iOS 9.1, which was released on October 21, 2015, which adds the News app for the UK and Australia as well as additional emoji and other bug fixes. Design The iPad Mini 4 was the first major redesign of the iPad Mini line, with a slightly taller and wider body (although there is no increase in screen size). There is also a much thinner design, with the device mirroring the depth being the same as the iPad Air 2 at 6.1 mm. This device is also lighter than the previous generation by 33.2 g. Due to this redesign, the device is incompatible with cases that would otherwise work with the iPad Mini 2 or the now discontinued iPad Mini 3. Apple released a Smart Cover and Silicone Case for the Mini 4, which can be used separately or in conjunction to make a full protective case. Unlike the iPad Air 2, there is no leather Smart Case for the device. The iPad Mini 4 is available in three colors: Space Grey, Silver and Gold. Convenience So, let's assume you have a 5-inch or larger phone. The extra space of a 7.9-inch tablet is nothing to sneeze at; it adds up to significantly more screen real estate than you'd expect, and its 4:3 aspect ratio fits word processing and productivity apps better than 16:9. But the days of clear divisions between gadget screens are over. It's a gentle curve from tiny all the way up to super-big, and you pick the size that works best for you. The Mini still feels like a superior e-reading device: it's Kindle-like and easy to tuck away in a small bag. I've taken notes on mine, too, in landscape mode. But you can do a lot of movie-watching and game-playing on larger-screened phones now, too. Camera The front-facing 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera is the same one found on all current iPads (except for the addition of burst mode), but the rear iSight camera gets ramped up from 5 to 8 megapixels to match the one on the iPad Air 2. I wouldn't want to shoot a feature film with it, but it's good for the sort of home movies that are the more common target of tablet video shoots. More importantly, it's a very solid tablet for making FaceTime and Skype video calls. Display Compared to previous recent iPad Mini models, the screen is enhanced. It has the same 2,048x1,536 "Retina" resolution as the iPad Mini 2 and 3, and adds the same laminated display and antireflective coating as the iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro. The difference was noticeable, giving the screen a real pop -- colors seem richer and more vivid, too, matching the quality of the Air 2. Overall Verdict iPad sales continue to decline. That's the world in which the iPad Mini 4 is competing. People just don't need new iPads every year. If you have anything newer than a first-gen iPad or iPad Mini, odds are they still work well -- and they can be upgraded to iOS 9. And the things iPads do can often be done elsewhere, by your phone or laptop. Apple didn't make a big deal out of the iPad Mini 4 when it was first announced, and it's easy to see why. The new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus sport A9 chips, and pressure-sensitive 3D Touch screens. The iPad Pro has a giant screen, a big step-up A9X chip and additional accessories. The iPad Mini 4 isn't as good as those gadgets. It's a simpler type of device. But it is a welcome, overdue upgrade to the Mini line. My biggest concern about this iPad is that it may not seem so powerful this time next year. It doesn't have Apple's latest iOS hardware advantages, except for iOS 9 multitasking. I'd say this is the perfect kid iPad, but it isn't. The same less expensive-yet-totally-still-capable iPad Mini 2 that I mentioned earlier is a better wallet-friendly bet. And that's only if you want to stick with Apple's iOS operating system. I think that's smart for anyone who already has an iPhone, but the fact is most of the same apps and basic features are available on Android and Amazon Fire tablets. Indeed, Amazon's 7-inch kid tablet costs $100 and comes with a no-questions-asked 2-year replacement guarantee. But if I'm sticking with iOS, I'd rather give my kid an iPad Mini than an iPod Touch. The Mini has aspirations of being not just a full e-reader, but a mini computer, too. It can go places and do things. For its size, it's the most versatile jack-of-all-trades iOS device in Apple's lineup. It's not an iPhone or a super-iPad. And I don't need it as much as I used to. But damn it, I still love its size. |
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